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Nutritional Values of Green Mung Beans

Mung beans are a base food for many edible items, including bean sprouts, flour and cellophane noodles. However, in their whole form, they are known as green mung beans. Green mung beans, which resemble peas, still have the skin attached; when hulled, the beans are yellow. Green mung beans are generally cooked by boiling them until they are soft, a process that can take up to a couple hours.

  1. Significance

    • Mung beans are very heart-healthy when consumed in their green form. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1 cup of boiled, unsalted whole green mung beans contains 26 calories and no fat. Additionally, mung beans are a cholesterol-free food.

    Considerations

    • When consumed with the green skin on, mung beans contain a fair amount of fiber. The USDA says that a cup of cooked mung beans contains one gram of fiber. While this amount is lower than other types of more traditional beans, such as kidney beans and black beans, it is fairly high for a green vegetable such as mung beans.

    Benefits

    • Mung beans are low in carbohydrates, especially when compared to other types of beans. The USDA says that a cup of green mung beans contains 5 grams of carbohydrates. To put that in perspective, the USDA also says a cup of cooked kidney beans contains about 40 grams of carbohydrates. Because of this, mung beans are a great, filling choice for those following low-carbohydrate diets.

    Potential

    • Mung beans are a solid source of vitamin C, with 14 milligrams per one-cup serving. That's about a sixth of the daily recommended allowance of vitamin C for adult males, and about a fifth of the daily recommended allowance for adult females. They also contain fairly high amounts of vitamin K and vitamin B6.

    Source

    • According to the USDA, mung beans are an excellent source of potassium, offering 125 milligrams per one-cup serving. Mung beans also contain 35 milligrams of phosphorus, 17 milligrams of magnesium and 15 milligrams of calcium. All of these minerals are an important part of a well-rounded daily diet.

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